Opera Scotland

Samson and Delilah 1966Sadler's Wells Opera

Read more about the opera Samson et Dalila

The Sadler's Wells company had already toured Scotland in the spring of 1966, but here they were back in the autumn, again for three weeks, starting 19 September. The tour order was reversed - Glasgow, Aberdeen, then Edinburgh. The performance schedule, identical in each city, was Mon Così fan tutte; Tue Thieving Magpie; Wed Madam Butterfly; Thu Samson and Delilah; Fri Bluebeard; Sat mat Bluebeard; Sat eve Madam Butterfly. Rossini's almost unknown piece was therefore given a second viewing within months, and an unknown Offenbach comedy was brought out for good measure.

Samson and Delilah was an awkward production to tour, due to the size of Ralph Koltai's set. But this was the second of three visits close together in the mid-sixties, and the first to feature the excellent pairing of Ronald Dowd and Ann Howard in the title roles.

Cast details are taken from programmes in Aberdeen City Library and, for Glasgow, the OperaScotland collection.